Career and Education Opportunities for Social Research Assistants in Nampa, Idaho

If you want to be a social research assistant, the Nampa, Idaho area offers many opportunities both for education and employment. The national trend for social research assistants sees this job pool growing by about 17.8% over the next eight years. Social research assistants generally assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social research.

The average wage in the general category of Social Science Technical jobs is $17 per hour or $35,650 per year nationwide. Jobs in this field include: data specialist, clinical research associate, and project manager.

There are eleven schools of higher education in the Nampa area, including one within twenty-five miles of Nampa where you can get a degree to start your career as a social research assistant. Social research assistants usually hold a Bachelor's degree, so you can expect to spend about four years training to become a social research assistant if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Social Research Assistant

In general, social research assistants assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social research. They also may perform publication activities, laboratory analysis, or data management.

Social research assistants furnish assistance with the preparation of project-related reports and presentations. They also ready tables and written reports summarizing research results. Equally important, social research assistants have to conduct internet-based and library research. They are often called upon to perform data entry and other clerical work as required for the completion of projects. Finally, social research assistants edit and submit protocols and other required research documentation.

Every day, social research assistants are expected to be able to articulate ideas and problems. They need to listen to and understand others in meetings. It is also important that they read and understand documents and reports.

It is important for social research assistants to verify the accuracy and validity of data entered in databases; correct any errors. They are often called upon to present research findings to groups of people. They also furnish assistance in the layout of survey instruments such as questionnaires. They are sometimes expected to ready and oversee extensive databases. Somewhat less frequently, social research assistants are also expected to supervise the work of survey interviewers.

Social research assistants sometimes are asked to screen potential subjects in order to establish their suitability as study participants. They also have to be able to edit and submit protocols and other required research documentation And finally, they sometimes have to track research participants, and perform any needed follow-up tasks.

Like many other jobs, social research assistants must have exceptional integrity and be thorough and dependable.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Nampa include:

Community Planner. Compile data from various sources, such as maps, reports, and field and file investigations, for use by city planner in making planning studies.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Social Research Assistant Training

Boise State University - Boise, ID

Boise State University, 1910 University Dr, Boise, ID 83725. Boise State University is a large university located in Boise, Idaho. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 19,667 students and an admission rate of 81%. Boise State University has an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree program in Social Sciences which graduated nine and three students respectively in 2008.

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified GIS/LIS Technologist:
This is certification is for technicians who integrate a variety of spatial data sets into a GIS format designed for graphic output or analysis.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Nampa, Idaho

Nampa, Idaho photo by J.B.

Nampa is located in Canyon County, Idaho. It has a population of over 80,362, which has grown by 54.9% in the past ten years. The cost of living index in Nampa, 87, is well below the national average. New single-family homes in Nampa cost $122,200 on average, which is well below the state average. In 2008, one hundred ninety-one new homes were built in Nampa, down from two hundred eighty-nine the previous year.

The three most popular industries for women in Nampa are health care, educational services, and computer and electronic products. For men, it is construction, computer and electronic products, and food. The average travel time to work is about 21 minutes. More than 16.0% of Nampa residents have a bachelor's degree, which is lower than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 4.5%, is lower than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Nampa is 11.2%, which is greater than Idaho's average of 8.3%.

The percentage of Nampa residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 41.5%, is less than both the national and state average. The largest religious groups are the LDS (Mormon) Church, the Catholic Church and the Church of the Nazarene.

Shopping malls in the area include Karcher Mall, Nampa Shopping Center and Holly Shopping Center. Visitors to Nampa can choose from Sleep Inn Nampa, Days Inn Nampa ID and Starlite Motel for temporary stays in the area.